Having grown up
as a skier, I've naturally enjoyed following the recent Olympic skiing competitions.
The other day
two commentators debated whether when an Olympic skier is lined up to medal no matter what,
if it is better to ski a little conservatively and secure a silver or bronze or
to just throw all caution to the wind and ski for the gold, knowing one mistake
could result in no medal at all. The second commentator concluded that you have
to put it all on the line. After all, no athlete goes to the Olympics to get
silver. Every athlete goes to get the gold.
This debate
really resonated with me. Its so true that those competitors who won medals in
the Olympics went all out, putting faith in their years of
training and ability to come out on top. I seek to apply this attitude to my own life
in everything that requires courage and risk. People either live
conservatively, seeking security and a nice solid score or they take big risks
to achieve their goals.
Whenever I doubt myself, I stay positive and tell myself to "Go for the gold!" It's a simple reminder but one
that is easily forgotten in the midst of a busy schedule. The Olympics and my connection with skiing really
inspired me to keep repeating this phrase. Seeing such amazing feats in
physical form reminded me that we have to keep moving beyond our perceived
limits and keep stepping outside of our comfort zones in order to reach our full potential.
Name: Ann Hamilton
Occupation: Pro
Photographer
Business: Ann
Hamilton Photographer
Number of years in
the industry: 10
Website: www.annhamilton.com and www.annhamiltonblog.com
Twittername: annhamilton
| Ann Hamilton is a San Francisco-based photographer with a passion for photographing weddings and dogs. She was recently named by American Photo Magazine as "One of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers of 2009." |
What's been best
marketing move/strategy? Combining my two loves of photography - weddings and
dogs - into one business. Being diverse in my product offerings has helped me
stand out from the crowd.
AM or PM? PM (I'm a
night owl!)
What product/tool do you think you couldn't live without, and why? My
camera. It's an extension of my eye.
What did you want to
be when you grew up? Marine biologist.
What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? There are no shortcuts in
life.
Who inspires you? I'm inspired by the world around me.
Describe your ideal ice cream sundae? Vanilla ice cream covered in hot
caramel with a strawberry on top.
What three words best describe your style? Modern, elegant, artistic.
What is something people don't know about you? I have a crush on Mark
Wahlberg.
What is your guilty pleasure? Coca cola and gummi bears. It's the sugar.
What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done? Travel the world
with Gene Higa.
What's your favorite
quote? Be true to your work, your word, and your friend. - Henry David Thoreau
Any must-do or don't
do for brides and grooms? Don't lose sight of what's really important.
As I've said before, I love to find the innate good in people. I love it when someone unknowlingly makes my day a little better. Two people who do an excellent job of this are Dawn and Dat, the Starbucks Baristas who know exactly how to make my tea, and offer to add soymilk exactly to my taste. One day I went to the Starbucks at the airport. When I ordered my tea and asked for milk, the barista was very bitter and cranky. She said she would have to charge me for it (which was awkward) and then she only added a splash of milk. It made me even more grateful for Dawn and Dat, the wonderful Baristas in Lafayette who not only offer me Soymilk for my tea, but also ask if I want it steamed or not.
I love it when people go out of their way to help someone else!
What was so interesting about this book was that it took an unconventional approach to psychology and why we are the way we are. This psychologist asked, "Why do we need to look at our past to figure out our futures? It doesn't have to be that complicated."
It is life experiences and personal interactions that determine your attitude - positive or negative. Filling your bucket means you are positive to yourself and to others. Emptying your bucket means either you are negative (to yourself or someone else), or someone is negative to you. It's the pay it forward idea, that positivity is exponential. Simply, be positive towards yourself and others (be a bucket filler!) to live a fulfilling life. I like how empowering this idea is. This is a great read!
"The only limitations in life are those we place on ourselves"
When I was in high school, I took a photography class. I was recognized in the class and honored with my own display during open house! During this open house I was proudly hanging around my photographs and overheard my teacher say that I was talented, but would never make it as a pro. Hearing that sparked something in me that made me want to succeed. Despite the discouraging comment from a teacher I looked up too, I chose not to let someone else's opinion of me determine my future.
Since high school, there have been many people that feel I don't have what it takes to make it. The limitations they see in me are limited to their beliefs. The only true limitations are those that I choose to inflict upon myself.
The Delkin ImageRouter is another product that I lived
without for a long time, but now that I have it, I couldn't imagine life
without it! The ImageRouter has slots for 4 CF cards that can all be
transferred to the computer at the same time. You can even link more than one
ImageRouter together to transfer more than 4 cards at a time. It is such a time
saver! If I'm at a wedding and have 12 cards, I load them up and then let the
ImageRouter do its thing. The only downside I see to it is that it only comes
with a USB connection, not Firewire. Even still, it transfers things pretty
quickly. Check out the Delkin website for more info.
One of Frederick's defining moments was leaving the United States Air Force to become a civilian. He worked for the Air Force for 8 years as a photojournalist. The reason for the switch was to see if he could accomplish something on his own. In this video he expresses about the comforts of the military and knowing where he could be step by step for years in the future. Becoming a civilian was one of his defining moments because it possessed so much risk but it was that leap of courage into the unknown that made him who he is today.
Stay tuned until the end of the video for some tips from Frederick Van.
Defining Moments | Photographer Frederick Van from Catherine Hall on Vimeo.
Frederick Van Johnson is a professional fashion, portrait, and wedding photographer. He is host of "This Week in Photography", one of the world's most popular photography-related podcasts, and regularly lectures and conducts training classes on topics ranging from business to photographic technique.
Frederick began his career as a Combat Photojournalist in the United States Air Force, where he served for 8 years and was decorated many times for his work in the field. Frederick's unit was among the first in the military to receive, and put into daily action, the very first digital camera technology--Frederick was awarded the Air Force Commendation medal for his key role in facilitating the transition from film-based photography to digital.
Frederick Van Website
"It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you're not."
-Denis Waitley
Sky Bergman
There's a saying that behind every talented person is a talented teacher. If you think about it, it must be true, even if that "teacher" only taught life lessons. When I was in college, I was fortunate enough to have a professor who not only taught me photography skills, but who also encourage me as an artist.
Sky and I are now more friends than teacher/student, but thanks to her inspiration and invaluable lessons, she will always be on a pedestal in my eyes.